Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/114

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86 HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT. nations, Init the influence of the church to which I belong is extensive and my part is great. But my thanks to the superiors of this Congress and my blessings and prayers to Almighty God must not be measured l)y extent and quantity but by true sympathy and quality. I repeat my thanks to the superiors of this Congress, the President, Charles Bonney, and Dr. Barrows. The archbishop then turned to the dignitaries on the plat- form and said : Reverend ministers of the eloquent name of God, the Creator of your earth and mine, I salute you on the one hand as my brothers in Jesus Christ, from whom, according to our faith, all good has originated in this world. I salute you in the name of the divinely inspired Gospel, which, according to our faith, is the salvation of the soul of man and the happiness of man in this world. All men have a common Creator without any distinction between the rich and the poor, the ruler and the ruled ; all men have a common Creator without any distinction of clime or race, without distinction of nationality or ancestry, of name or nobility ; all men have a common Creator and con- sequently a common Father in God. I raise up my hands and I bless with heartfelt love the great country, and the happy, glorious people of the United States. "This indeed is glorious," cried Mr. Bonney, enthusiastic- ally, as the Archbishop resumed his seat, a sentiment which was greeted with prolonged cheering. The next speaker, P. C. Mozoomdar, of Calcutta, India, was already known to many in the assembly, both personally, as author of " The Oriental Christ," and also as representative of the Brahmo-Somaj, the movement toward a pure and spirit- ual theism, on which high hopes of many hearts have been fixed in many lands. On rising he was loudly cheered. SPEECH OF p. C. MOZOOMDAR. Leaders of the Parliament of Religions, Men and Women of America : — The recognition, sympathy and welcome you have given to India to-day are gratifying to thousands of liberal Hindu religious thinkers, whose representatives I see around me, and, on behalf of mv countrymen, I cordially thank you. India claims her place in the brother- hood of mankind, not only because of her great antiquity, but equally for what has taken place there in recent times. Modern India has sprung from ancient India by a law of evolution, a process of continuity which explains some of the most difficult problems of our national life. In prehistoric times our forefathers worshiped the great living Spirit, God, and, after many